While the net line was being winched aboard, the line was under tension. When a large wave passed under the vessel, she rolled heavily, causing the line to ride up the vertical guide roller. Because the 23cm vertical guide roller was not fitted with a horizontal stopper at its upper end, the line rode over the top of the starboard roller and struck the victim in the back just above the waist. The victim was thus propelled over the railing and into the sea. The clothing worn by the victim did not provide him with any thermal protection nor any flotation capabilities. He was reportedly 183cm tall and weighed 118 kg. The waterproof outer clothing that he was wearing and his large size, combined with the motion of the vessel, hampered the efforts of the crew to take a hold of and assist the victim. As the victim was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), he would have had to expend a large amount of energy in attempting to stay afloat once he lost his grip on the side of the vessel. The smooth hull of the vessel afforded the victim no possibility of using his legs to assist him to get out of the water. The use of a simple portable device to provide a foot hold for the victim could have assisted his recovery. There are several brands of commercially available products designed to assist the recovery of persons from the sea. These include inflatable PFDs fitted with an integral harness, and a combined boarding ladder and rescue cradle. There are several types of commercially available outer work-wear that provide buoyancy and afford protection for the wearer from the effects of cold water immersion. In the past, fishermen have been reluctant to wear this type of outer wear as they considered it to be restrictive and difficult to wear while working. Improvements have been made to the design and manufacture of this type of outer wear and it is now gaining gradual acceptance within the fishing industry. It is generally accepted that persons holding still and wearing a standard lifejacket and light clothing in water of 2 to 3C could expect to be able to help themselves for about 15 minutes. After about 15 minutes, they would become weak and unable to help themselves. The predicted survival time in water of 2 to 3C is a little more than one hour before the victim succumbs to hypothermia.Analysis While the net line was being winched aboard, the line was under tension. When a large wave passed under the vessel, she rolled heavily, causing the line to ride up the vertical guide roller. Because the 23cm vertical guide roller was not fitted with a horizontal stopper at its upper end, the line rode over the top of the starboard roller and struck the victim in the back just above the waist. The victim was thus propelled over the railing and into the sea. The clothing worn by the victim did not provide him with any thermal protection nor any flotation capabilities. He was reportedly 183cm tall and weighed 118 kg. The waterproof outer clothing that he was wearing and his large size, combined with the motion of the vessel, hampered the efforts of the crew to take a hold of and assist the victim. As the victim was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), he would have had to expend a large amount of energy in attempting to stay afloat once he lost his grip on the side of the vessel. The smooth hull of the vessel afforded the victim no possibility of using his legs to assist him to get out of the water. The use of a simple portable device to provide a foot hold for the victim could have assisted his recovery. There are several brands of commercially available products designed to assist the recovery of persons from the sea. These include inflatable PFDs fitted with an integral harness, and a combined boarding ladder and rescue cradle. There are several types of commercially available outer work-wear that provide buoyancy and afford protection for the wearer from the effects of cold water immersion. In the past, fishermen have been reluctant to wear this type of outer wear as they considered it to be restrictive and difficult to wear while working. Improvements have been made to the design and manufacture of this type of outer wear and it is now gaining gradual acceptance within the fishing industry. It is generally accepted that persons holding still and wearing a standard lifejacket and light clothing in water of 2 to 3C could expect to be able to help themselves for about 15 minutes. After about 15 minutes, they would become weak and unable to help themselves. The predicted survival time in water of 2 to 3C is a little more than one hour before the victim succumbs to hypothermia. A rope, attached to the net which was being hauled in, struck the victim in the back and propelled him overboard into the sea. The lack of horizontal stoppers at the top of the vertical net rope guide rollers allowed the line to ride up over the starboard roller and strike the victim. The victim was not wearing a PFD. The waterproof outer clothing which he was wearing did not afford protection from the effects of hypothermia, nor did it provide buoyancy. The victim's size combined with the motion of the vessel hampered the efforts of the remaining crew members to assist him. The victim had no means of using his legs to assist him to board the vessel from the water.Findings A rope, attached to the net which was being hauled in, struck the victim in the back and propelled him overboard into the sea. The lack of horizontal stoppers at the top of the vertical net rope guide rollers allowed the line to ride up over the starboard roller and strike the victim. The victim was not wearing a PFD. The waterproof outer clothing which he was wearing did not afford protection from the effects of hypothermia, nor did it provide buoyancy. The victim's size combined with the motion of the vessel hampered the efforts of the remaining crew members to assist him. The victim had no means of using his legs to assist him to board the vessel from the water. The cause of the man overboard of the crew member of the FISH FINDER was that the victim was struck by a line and propelled overboard. The effects of hypothermia occurring in the cold water most probably caused the victim's death. The efforts of the remaining crew to recover the victim from the sea were hampered by the vessel's motion, the type of clothing worn by the victim and the lack of an effective means to assist in his recovery.Causes and Contributing Factors The cause of the man overboard of the crew member of the FISH FINDER was that the victim was struck by a line and propelled overboard. The effects of hypothermia occurring in the cold water most probably caused the victim's death. The efforts of the remaining crew to recover the victim from the sea were hampered by the vessel's motion, the type of clothing worn by the victim and the lack of an effective means to assist in his recovery. Following the occurrence the owner installed additional vertical guides at the after and forward end of the net hauling hawser to prevent the line from riding over the rollers and striking a person. The vessel was equipped with a portable ladder for use in an emergency. The deck crew now wear floater-type work suits when hauling nets.Safety Action Following the occurrence the owner installed additional vertical guides at the after and forward end of the net hauling hawser to prevent the line from riding over the rollers and striking a person. The vessel was equipped with a portable ladder for use in an emergency. The deck crew now wear floater-type work suits when hauling nets.